General Forum

Not really a spur of the moment thing, I've been debating trying to start one of these for real for a while...and I do enjoy clicking on the ones posted on the right side of our home page here. So...after investigating which kinds I liked better, I created my own...called "Cardboard History". Here is the link- cardboardhistory.blogspot.com/ I only have two posts up so far, a welcome message and a test post, but there is more to come. Lots more! (In fact, I'm going to type up another one, with multiple photos, as soon as I post this message)

I'll also be submitting it to Admin for inclusion in the official Blogs/Articles page...maybe someday one of my posts will make the right side of the home page.

To be honest, this is not my first attempt at a card blog. My website, which I have run since 2004, offers a blog feature...but it doesn't support photos, so my interest level was low. Ironic considering it's primarily a photo hosting website, they don't provide for photos in the blog.

As always, thanks for reading!

Hi Billy, I checked it out yesterday. I'll be 100% honest - I didn't read the whole thing as I'm not into NASCAR, but from what I did read, and the layout, it looks VERY nice. The cards you posted are a good size - they are big enough to see them clearly, yet not too big to overtake the page. Nicely done!

Thanks Dan! I wish I could take credit for the scan thing, but Google automatically resizes them. My first post about a baseball card is going to come (hopefully) tomorrow. Depends on how fast I can get the scans done of the cards I got today. :)

 I know the feeling.  I just scored.  :D  Stopped at my card store today looking for his "junk box." Someone was in selling Pittsburgh penguin memorabilia... I waited and bought the double signed hat and the historic piece... a penguins puck signed by Jarome Iginla!!!!  aand the junk box... I have my work cut out for me...

I will be interested to see what information you find in the future.  I know you have multiple interests when it comes to collecting which helps to broaden your research.  There's little collected history on cards.  maybe when we're done our individual researchings, we can pool our findings together and write a book too... Just a thought.

Nice blog Billy. I too admit I'm not into NASCAR and the only NBA I'm really into is the Bullets (Baltimore then Washington) now Wizards. I did like the Superman set post. I have always been big into Non-Sport cards as well as the sports. One of my Non-Sports Price Guides from the early 80s (Sport Americana price guide to Non-Sports Cards 1930-1060 number 2) says it was copywrited 1941 and shows a back that is marked as 1940 but they don't bring up that contradiction.

The guide also mentions a similar set candy-boxed set made by Leader Novelty within a year of the Gum, Inc set. This set has 48 cards is a different style but has some of the same details. It also has the 1940 date and credited to Superman, Inc. They had a standard front panel for the box and the cards were printed on the back panel they had their card numbers on the front face of the card and on a side "flap" similar to the tabs on the 1950s Baseball Red Man tobacco cards and like the Red Man cards often the flap or "tab" has long been removed. Their backs some of them have the Superman logo like your set and some don't. An intersting fact mentioned is that although the cards are marked as being from a "series of 48" cards none of the cards above number 36 have been reported as of the publishing of that guide 1993. Oops sorry I thought it had been an early 80s guide as most of my Sport Americana and early Beckett guides are from the early 80s.

Thanks for the added info! I have almost no reference books on non-sports- just Non-Sport Update magazines from 2012-current, but they are almost wholly focused on new cards. I know there are books out there but I keep choosing to buy cards instead of books, lol. There were so many great non-sports sets issued before I was born, and I don't know a whole lot about them. Thank you again!

There were so many great non-sports sets issued before I was born, and I don't know a whole lot about them. Thank you again!

Billy You are Welcome,

I'll gladly try to help when I can. I have an OK working knowledge of some Non-Sports sets from 1960s to around '80s. Basically back when Topps did the whole 33, 66 or 99cards/11 or 22 stickers a set thing with little or no inserts. What I don't know I can sometimes lookup provided I can find the right book. AH Puzzle backs, trivia questions, holograms before they were overused, foil inserts in only small "chase" numbers... non-sport nostalgia. It brings tears to my eyes.

That works out well because my main knowledge base is circa 1989-96 :) I have most of my non-sports collection posted to the Database, but I have some I can't find checklists for- usually promos.

yeah promos usually are never listed anywhere I've seen except when they come out and a ton of Ebay sellers are trying to sell them at least 50% over what they should be or I would be comfortable getting them for.  Then the NSU promos inserted with the magazine always seem to be numbered P2 and I have no idea how P1 was distrubuted, or it was a convention only promo. Again something that might end up on Ebay for a super inflated price.

A couple of years back I was anti-promo cards because of the wacky system of who distributes them when and the convention only versions, but now-days I try to get the ones from the sets I am really into. My Non-Sport tastes have always been mostly sci-fi and tv/movie related. For some reason I am really reallly into the original wacky packages and vintage parody cards (as a "Weird Al" Yankovic fan and before I have always been a weird parody liker/lover) but not the more modern or chrome wacky packages.

 tidbit of history on the wacky.  look up phoney's funnies on the site, I added that checklist.  seems to me that that was the origins of the wacky packages.  something like '66 or '67 i think?  I have some of that set in my collection.  Be easier to find it that way.